CIC 481

Past Issues
CIC 480
CIC 479
CIC 478
CIC 477
CIC 476
CIC 475
CIC 474
CIC 473
CIC 472
CIC 471
CIC 470
CIC 469
CIC 468
CIC 467
CIC 466
CIC 465
CIC 464
CIC 463
CIC 462
CIC 461
CIC 460
CIC 459
CIC 458
CIC 457
CIC 456
CIC 455
CIC 454
CIC 453
CIC 452
CIC 451
CIC 450
CIC 449
CIC 448
CIC 447
CIC 446
CIC 445
CIC 444
CIC 443
CIC 442
CIC 441
CIC 440
CIC 439
CIC 438
CIC 437
CIC 436
CIC 435
CIC 434
CIC 433
CIC 432
CIC 431
CIC 430
CIC 429
CIC 428
CIC 427
CIC 426
CIC 425
CIC 424
CIC 423
CIC 422
CIC 421
CIC 420
CIC 419
CIC 418
CIC 417
CIC 416
CIC 415
CIC 414
CIC 413
CIC 412
CIC 411
CIC 410
CIC 409
CIC 408
CIC 407
CIC 406
CIC 405
CIC 404
CIC 403
CIC 402
CIC 401
CIC 400
CIC 399
CIC 398
CIC 397
CIC 396
CIC 395
CIC 394
CIC 393
CIC 392
CIC 391
CIC 390
CIC 389
CIC 388
CIC 387
CIC 386
CIC 385
CIC 384
CIC 383
CIC 382
CIC 381
CIC 380
CIC 379
CIC 378
CIC 377
CIC 375
CIC 374
CIC 373
CIC 372
CIC 371
CIC 370
CIC 369
CIC 368
CIC 367
CIC 366
CIC 365
CIC 364
CIC 363
CIC 362
CIC 361
CIC 360
CIC 359
CIC 358
CIC 357
CIC 356
CIC 355
CIC 354
CIC 353
CIC 352
CIC 351
CIC 350
CIC 349
CIC 348
CIC 347
CIC 346
CIC 345
CIC 344
CIC 343
CIC 342
CIC 341
CIC 340
CIC 339
CIC 338
CIC 337
CIC 336
CIC 335
CIC 334
CIC 333
CIC 332
CIC 331
CIC 330
CIC 329
CIC 328
CIC 327
CIC 326
CIC 325
CIC 324
CIC 323
CIC 322
CIC 321
CIC 320
CIC 319
CIC 318
CIC 317
CIC 316
CIC 315
CIC 314
CIC 313
CIC 312
CIC 311
CIC 310
CIC 309
CIC 308
CIC 307
CIC 306
CIC 305
CIC 304
CIC 303
CIC 302
CIC 301
CIC 300
CIC 299
CIC 298
CIC 297
CIC 296
CIC 295
CIC 294
CIC 293
CIC 292
CIC 291
CIC 290
CIC 289
CIC 288
CIC 287
CIC 286
CIC 285
CIC 284
CIC 283
CIC 282
CIC 281
CIC 280
CIC 279
CIC 278
CIC 277
CIC 276
CIC 275
CIC 274
CIC 273
CIC 272
CIC 271
CIC 270
CIC 269
CIC 268
CIC 267
CIC 266
CIC 265
CIC 264
CIC 263
CIC 262
CIC 261
CIC 260
CIC 259
CIC 258
CIC 257
CIC 256
CIC 255
CIC 254
CIC 253
CIC 252
CIC 251
CIC 250
CIC 249
CIC 248
CIC 247
CIC 246
CIC 245
CIC 244
CIC 243
CIC 242
CIC 241
CIC 240
CIC 239
CIC 238
CIC 237
CIC 236
CIC 235
CIC 234
CIC 233
CIC 232
CIC 231
CIC 230
CIC 229
CIC 228
CIC 227
CIC 226
CIC 225
CIC 224
CIC 223
CIC 222
CIC 221
CIC 220
CIC 219
CIC 218
CIC 217
CIC 216
CIC 215
CIC 214
CIC 213
CIC 212
CIC 211
CIC 210
CIC 209
CIC 208
CIC 207
CIC 206
CIC 205
CIC 204
CIC 203
CIC 202
CIC 201
CIC 200
CIC 199
CIC 198
CIC 197
CIC 196
CIC 195
CIC 194
CIC 193
CIC 192
CIC 191
CIC 190
CIC 189
CIC 188
CIC 187
CIC 186
CIC 185
CIC 184
CIC 183
CIC 182
CIC 181
CIC 180
CIC 179
CIC 178
CIC 177
CIC 176
CIC 175
CIC 174
CIC 173
CIC 172
CIC 171
CIC 170
CIC 169
CIC 168
CIC 167
CIC 166
CIC 165
CIC 164
CIC 163
CIC 162
CIC 161
CIC 160
CIC 159
CIC 158
CIC 157
CIC 156
CIC 155
CIC 154
CIC 153
CIC 152
CIC 151
CIC 150
CIC 149
CIC 148
CIC 147
CIC 146
CIC 145
CIC 144
CIC 143
CIC 142
CIC 141
CIC 140
CIC 139
CIC 138
CIC 137
CIC 136
CIC 135
CIC 134
CIC 133
CIC 132
CIC 131
CIC 130
CIC 129
CIC 128
CIC 127
CIC 126
CIC 125
CIC 124
CIC 123
CIC 122
CIC 121
CIC 120
CIC 119
CIC 118
CIC 117
CIC 116
CIC 115
CIC 114
CIC 113
CIC 112
CIC 111
CIC 110
CIC 109
CIC 108
CIC 107
CIC 106
CIC 105
CIC 104
CIC 103
CIC 102
CIC 101
CIC 100
CIC 99
CIC 98
CIC 97
CIC 96
CIC 95
CIC 94
CIC 93
CIC 92
CIC 91
CIC 90
CIC 89
CIC 88
CIC 87
CIC 86
CIC 85
CIC 84
CIC 83
CIC 82
CIC 81
CIC 80
CIC 79
CIC 78
CIC 77
CIC 76
CIC 75
CIC 74
CIC 73
CIC 72
CIC 71
CIC 70
CIC 69
CIC 68
CIC 67
CIC 66
CIC 65
CIC 64
CIC 63
CIC 62
CIC 61
CIC 60
CIC 59
CIC 58
CIC 57
CIC 56
CIC 55
CIC 54
CIC 53
CIC 52
CIC 51
CIC 50
CIC 49
CIC 48
CIC 47
CIC 46
CIC 45
CIC 44
CIC 43
CIC 42
CIC 41
CIC 40
CIC 39
CIC 38
CIC 37
CIC 36
CIC 35
CIC 34
CIC 33
CIC 32
CIC 31
CIC 30
CIC 29
CIC 28
CIC 27
CIC 26
CIC 25
CIC 24
CIC 23
CIC 22
CIC 21
CIC 20
CIC 19
CIC 18
CIC 17
CIC 16
CIC 15
CIC 14
CIC 13
CIC 12
CIC 11
CIC 10
CIC 9
CIC 8
CIC 7
CIC 6
CIC 5
CIC 4
CIC 3
CIC 2
CIC 1

Badmouthing the "Big Bugs"

The Civil War produced an unusually large crop of inept generals, on both sides. Naturally, they were often criticized by their colleagues, opponents, troops, contemporaries, and the occasional historian. Forthwith, some seriously negative comments about some of the more senior officers on both sides, known as “Big Bugs” in the Old Army.

You may find some surprises here, not least when one of those criticized as inept turns out to be critical of someone else.

Rude Comments about Some Major Generals in Blue

 

  • Nathaniel Banks,
    • ". . . oppressed somewhat with a position novel and untried, and full of responsibility of a character so different from those he has had heretofore that he feels ill at ease." -- Maj. Gen. Alpheus S. Williams, U.S.
    • “a nobody . . . as good a politician as he is a bad soldier” -- Maj. Gen. Philip Kearny, U.S.
  • Don Carlos Buell, “ . . . utterly unfit for command of the great army under him . . .” – Governor Oliver P. Morton of Indiana.
  • Benjamin Butler, “Nobody ever doubted his energy; nearly everybody doubted his character. He was endlessly useful and endlessly troublesome.” – Allan Nevins, historian
  • John C. Frémont, " . . . utterly incompetent." -- Maj. Gen. David Hunter, U.S.
  • Henry “Old Brains” Halleck,
    • “. . . selfish, covetous of renown, unfriendly to and jealous of all naval doings . . . ." -- Rear Adm. Samuel Francis DuPont, USN
    • “ . . . a dull, stolid, inefficient, and incompetent General-in-Chief . . . [who] sits back in his chair doing comparatively nothing.” – Gideon Welles, U.S. Secretary of the Navy
    • “Of all men whom I have encountered in high position, Halleck was the most hopelessly stupid. I do not think he ever had a correct military idea . . . .” -- Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan, U.S.
    • “. . . that pedant turned soldier” – Williamson Murray, historian
  • Samuel P. Heintzelman, “ . . . a very commonplace individual of no brains, or whose limited apportionment was long since ossified in the small detail of an infantry garrison.” -- Maj. Gen. Philip Kearny, U.S.
  • Joseph Hooker,
    •  “. . . a worthless loafer . . . " and a "braggadocio and drunkard." – Maj. Gen. Henry W. Slocum, U.S.
    • "I know Hooker well and tremble to think of his handling 100,000 men in the presence of Lee." -- Maj. Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman, U.S.A.
    • "A man may talk very big when he has no responsibility." -- Maj. Gen. George G. Meade
  • George B. McClellan, “Criticizing someone else always made McClellan feel better.” -- Chester G. Hearn, historian
  • Eleazer A. Paine, "He is entirely unfit to command a post." – Lt. Gen. U.S. Grant
  • Franz Sigel, ". . . in point of theoretical education, is far above the average of commanders in this country. He has studied with great care the science of strategy, and seems thoroughly conversant with the campaigns of all the great captains, so far as covers their main strategic features, and also seems familiar with the duties of the staff, but in tactics, great and small logistics, and discipline he is greatly deficient. These defects are so apparent as to make it absolutely impossible for him to gain the confidence of American officers and men, and entirely unfit him for a high command in our Army." -- Brig. Gen. John M. Schofield, Feb. 12, 1862.

 

Rude Comments about Some Generals, Lieutenant Generals, and Major Generals in Gray

  • Pierre G.T. Beauregard, “ He never had much brains . . . He always stops to quarrel with his generals . . . .” – Mary Chesnut, diarist
  • Edmund Kirby Smith, “The trouble with Edmund Kirby Smith . . . was that he believed his own press.” -- Larry J. Daniel, historian.
  • Robert E. Lee,
    •  “ . . . too subservient to those charged with the civil government of his country.” – Field Marshal Sir Garnet Wolseley
    •  “. . . I never could see in his achievements what justifies his reputation.” Lt. Gen. U.S. Grant, U.S.A.
  • Jubal Early, “. . . constitutionally a fault-finder – querulous, dissatisfied & meddling in his dispositions . . . .” – Major John Warwick Daniel, C.S.A.
  • Leonidas Polk, “. . . by education and habit is unfitted for executing the plans of others. He will convince himself that his own are better and follow them without reflecting on the consequences.”– General Braxton Bragg, C.S.A.
  • Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson,
    • “ . . . at times something of a martinet . . . .” -- Brig. Gen. Edward Porter Alexander, C.S.A.
    • “ . . . tyrannical & unjust . . . .” – Brig. Gen. Maxcy Gregg, C.S.A.
  • Gideon Pillow,
    •  “ . . . . [after Brig. Gen. John B. Floyd, the Confederacy’s] next most worthless officer . . . . ” – Col. Charles Whittlesey, 20th Ohio
    • " . . . that ass . . . . Human stupidity can go no further than this." – Lt. Gen. Daniel H. Hill, C.S.A.
    •  “ . . . almost any head was wiser than Pillow’s . . . . untrained and unafraid . . . .” – John Y. Simon, historian
  • David E. Twiggs, the only “Old Army” general of the line to join the Confederacy,
    • A "miserable devil." Maj. Gen. William J. Worth, U.S.A.
    • ". . . not qualified to command an army either in the presence or in the absence of the enemy." -- Brevet Lt. Gen. Winfield Scott, U.S.A.

Readers may note the lack of comment about the Confederacy’s General Braxton Bragg. There are so many negative comments about Bragg we decided to reserve them another time.

 

The Curious Case of John Paul Jones’s Bosun’s Pipe

An odd bit of naval lore about John Paul Jones's boatswain's pipe circulated at the Naval Academy before World War II.

Supposedly, Jones provided a bosun's pipe of sterling silver to the bosun’s mate of the Bonhomme Richard. Years later, the pipe ended up in the possession of the Navy Department, and eventually ended up in what was termed “Main Navy.” This was the Navy and Munitions Building, one of a series of flimsy “temporary” structures erected in 1918 for World War I on the Mall in Washington, which were finally torn down in 1970 and replaced by the Constitution Gardens .

Now, in 1953, George J. Largess (USNA ’39) was assigned to Main Navy as Communications Officer (among his duties were rewiring the joint, which turned out to have walls twice as thick as normal, probably to prevent German sabotage). Recalling the story about Jones’s bosun’s pipe, he decided to look for it. Alas, no one there knew anything about a John Paul Jones artifact. Having apparently exhausted all lines of inquiry, Largess was ready to consign the story to a quaint fiction of the Academy.

Then, one day, Largess was introduced to a retired Chief Petty Officer who happened to be visiting some old shipmates in the building. So he asked the old Chief if he knew anything about the fabled bosun’s pipe. To his surprise, the former CPO replied in the affirmative.

The Chief explained that he had actually seen the bosun's pipe when he been assigned to the Main Navy back in the 1920s. And then he added that it was no longer in the United States.

According to the old Chief, when former Chief-of-Naval Operations Adm. Harold “Betty” Stark was dispatched to Britain in March of 1942 to act as liaison officer to the Royal Navy and help develop working arrangements between the to fleets, he took the pipe with him. Stark presented the pipe to the First Sea Lord, Britain’s CNO, Admiral of the Fleet Sir Alfred Dudley Pound as a token of American friendship and commitment.

Assuming the old Chief’s tale was true, what happened to pipe after that is unknown.

George J. Largess (1917-2009): After graduating from USNA, he had the usual round of peacetime assignments in the Navy. With the coming of war he served on escort duty in the Atlantic aboard the very new USS Wilkes (DD 441) and took part in the landings in North Africa on November 8, 1942. In mid-’42 he was assigned to the new aircraft carrier Yorktown (CV 10), named to honor the ship that had fought at Coral Sea and Midway, where she was lost to enemy action. After the war Largess again held a variety of assignments, including command of the USS Keppler (DD 765) and the USS Altair (AK 257). He retired as a commander in 1962. Largess later taught at the Naval Academy Prep School and District of Columbia public schools.

-- Dennis Largess

Dennis Largess enlisted in the Navy after college and served for 1972-1974 aboard the USS Manley (DD 940) , home ported at Athens, Greece, followed by 1975-76 in the Farragut (DDG 37), captained by Mike Boorda, who later served as CNO. He says that the most exciting moment of his naval career occurred during the Bicentennial OpSail at New York for July 4, 1976, when sailors were given a tumultuous welcome. Arguably, the next night was a major low point; hearing that Elizabeth Taylor was kissing any sailor with a beard at a local watering hole named “Your Father's Mustache,” Largess headed for the place, only to arrive 15 minutes after she had left. He now lives in the Metro D.C. area.

More...


© 1998 - 2024 StrategyWorld.com. All rights Reserved.
StrategyWorld.com, StrategyPage.com, FYEO, For Your Eyes Only and Al Nofi's CIC are all trademarks of StrategyWorld.com
Privacy Policy